Michael Sheen
"Twilight" star returns British knightly order
Michael Sheen at the premiere of his film "The Fantastic Voyage of Dr. Dolittle" in January 2020.
© Carrie-nelson / Imagecollect.com
To receive an order of British knighthood is a tremendous honor. Nevertheless, actor Michael Sheen gave his back – out of conviction.
The Welsh actor Michael Sheen (51), known from the "Twilight" and "Underworld" series, has revealed in an online interview that he has returned his British knightly order for services in the drama field. He was forced to take this step in 2017, but only now has he made it public in an interview with Owen Jones.
The fact that he took the title Order of the British Empire (OBE) again around three years ago had to do with a lecture that he was supposed to give as a visiting professor at a university at the time. "I learned a lot about Welsh history while doing research for the lecture," says Sheen. So too, what a damaging relationship there has been between England and Wales.
So he thought back then: "I have two options. Either I don't give the lecture and stick to my knightly order, or I give the lecture and give up my knightly order." He finally decided on the second variant.
He didn't want to be a hypocrite
But it was not easy for him and because he did not want to offend anyone, he kept his decision to give up the dignity bestowed personally by Queen Elizabeth II (94) in 2009 a secret. "I did not mean to be disrespectful. However, I realized that I would be a hypocrite if I had addressed (with the title of knight) the problematic nature of the British-Welsh relationship in the lecture."
It is not unusual for British stars to play with the crown. Many a celebrity did not even accept an award. Others, like Michael Sheen, later returned them. For example Beatle John Lennon (1940-1980) who was murdered in 1980, David Bowie (1947-2016) who died in 2016 and director Danny Boyle (64, "Trainspotting").